There is a certain charm about breaking with the usual and doing the unexpected. Christmas might be a season traditionally spent at home, with your family. Nevertheless, the holiday season also brings the opportunity to live new experiences. That is very much the case with the Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) a Spanish Christmas tradition that is marked by huge, spectacular parades in every city, town or village of the country, no matter how big or small, where sweets and presents are given to all.

This is the Celebration of the Epiphany, when the Three Kings arrived in Bethlehem. Those lucky Spanish children not only receive a couple of gifts from Santa but also wake up on the sixth to find even more presents from Los Reyes (the Kings).
On that day, people will be strolling down the roads, trickling into the major avenues or squares of the cities with bags in their hands, hoping to come out with a bagful of candies and one or the other gift. Because in Spain, it is not the Baby Jesus, Santa Claus or St. Nicholas who brings gifts on Christmas Day, but rather the Three Kings, whose generosity is put to the test on January 6. The Kings parade on huge, decorated coaches are throwing sweets for all the children who are waiting excitedly for their arrival.

Roscón de Reyes

You would think that having indulged in the famous turrón and polvorones over Christmas, the Spanish would need a break. On the contrary, this particular festival satisfies the sweetest tooth with roscón de reyes, a large donut-shaped cake decorated with fruits symbolizing the precious gems that adorned the royal trio’s lavish clothing.